For the second season in a row, the Habs get off to a fast start and lose just twice in October. Alex Kovalev makes huge contributions in that effort with 10 goals in his first 19 games. Kovalev will keep up his strong production and finish the season with 35 goals and 84 points, earning a spot on the NHL’s Second All-Star Team.

After an inconsistent month of November, the Habs get back on track in December. Price takes over in goal from Huet, who is sidelined by a hip injury and Jaroslav Halak is brought in to back him up.

At the end of January, Andrei Markov is elected to the Eastern Conference team’s starting lineup for the NHL All-Star Game in Atlanta. At the All-Star break, the Canadiens are sitting at second overall in the East.

On February 19, in a game against the New York Rangers, the team pulls off an historic accomplishment. Trailing 5-0 late in the second period, the Habs overcome the big deficit with a goal from Mark Streit and two each from Michael Ryder and Alex Kovalev. Team captain Saku Koivu completes the team’s biggest comeback in franchise history by delivering the shootout winner.

One week later, the Canadiens jump to first place in the East, marking the first time they have led the conference since 1993. The team manages the feat without Huet, who was traded to the Washington Capitals on trade deadline day.

On April 6, following the Pittsburgh Penguins’ loss to the Flyers, the Habs claim their first conference title since 1988-89.

THE PLAYOFFS

For the first time in nearly 10 years, the team is favored to win a playoff series, despite the absence of captain Saku Koivu, who will miss the first five games with a broken bone in his foot. The Canadiens enter the first round series having won 11 straight games against the Bruins.

Despite an inexperienced lineup that includes eight players appearing in their first playoff series, the Habs claim the first two games at the Bell Centre. The Bruins are not to be counted out, however and Carbonneau’s team is widely outplayed in the next two games in Boston, yet the Canadiens are able to split the road series with a 1-0 win in Game 4.

The Bruins, led by former Habs head coach Claude Julien, are far from finished. They win the next two games to push the series to the limit. The Canadiens, however, give Boston no chance in the seventh game and go on to a 5-0 win. Brothers Andrei and Sergei Kostitsyn score three of the team’s five goals in the clinching rout.

The Habs begin their series against Philadelphia with a 4-3 win in overtime. It is the only game the Flyers team will lose against Montreal.

The Flyers win the next four games to end the Canadiens’ best season since their Stanley Cup run in 1992-93.

Just like the regular season, Alex Kovalev leads the team’s playoff scorers with 11 points in 12 games.